It Can Be That Frustrating Click left side of photo to go to previous entry/ Click the right half of photo to go to the next
Jake Takes on the Manila Streets Jake Gives the Other Drivers a Piece of his Mind That Felt Better Hey You!!!! Ahhhhhhhh....This Traffic is making me bonkers... Driving in Manila Mall of Asia 'Cause no matter how far away you roam, If you want to be happy in a million ways, For the holidays, You can't beat home, sweet home." - Home for the Holidays, Perry Como I can count using my left hand the number of times I've used my car horn in the last 5 years in Europe and North America - combined. But in the Philippines, I've practically used up the number of hairs I've got to count the number of times I've clenched my steering wheel and banged my other hand on the car's horns while driving on my first day in Manila. It can be that frustrating. I become a magnet of sorts for jeepneys to just veer to my lane and cut me for no reason at all. In a second, they'd have my lane and then go back to their original lane and do the same dance step a half dozen of times more in a matter of minutes. Waaah!!! Buses love to do the same. Even at their size, they seem to be as nimble as a ballerina with their lane hugging, box-outing tactics. I had a week of rest from Manila driving as I was never behind the wheel from Dec 19 to 26, as Cebu was a different terrain. Back in Manila, I promised to be a better driver. One morning I donned my Manila driver cap, reversed it, and puckered my lip to signify my intent to be the driver I was meant to be. No one will be cutting me off. No one will taunt me into giving in my lane, several times over. Pedestrians are priorities, but only when they cross in pedestrian lanes (which are very few in Manila anyways). Life became better. I arrived on time for appointments and yes, I never had any reason to use the horn. This time...I was the one being honked at :) Ha! << |
|